ORLANDO, Fla. -- Nonprofit organizations dedicating their services to at-risk kids are receiving thousands of dollars from Orange County.
Commissioners voted to approve entering three-year partnerships with seven groups that focus on youth violence prevention, education, and skill building.
Five contracts were approved for $250,000: Beautifully Scarred, Boys2Men Mentoring, L.O.V.E. Our Youth, My Coping Lab, and Redeeming Light Community Services. Total Restoration Transformation Center was approved for $300,000, and Let Your Voice Be Heard was approved for $150,000.
County staff in the Citizens Commission for Children (CCC) division say organizations will be funded through term contracts with Orange County. The contracts total $1.5 million. CCC is responsible for the management and ongoing monitoring of the contracts.
During the county commission meeting Tuesday, Mayor Jerry Demings said this program will help more than 500 kids annually.
Ty'kevious Francis has been a member of Boys2Men Mentoring for nearly three years.
"I wasn't even worried about my future when I was in middle school, I was just worried about just ready to get out of school, so as [I'm] 16 ready to drop out. But ever since I've joined Boys2Men, it's like they gave me a purpose to work for," said Francis.
Francis says now he sees a future for himself -- whether that's joining the military, playing in the NFL, or studying engineering in college, he says the program been there for him more times than he can count.
"It is beyond friendships and relationships, it's more like a brotherhood at Boys2Men," he said.
Founder Daniel Ings says these funds will help with their weekly operations and field trips. It is exposing kids to new experiences while building relationships with them.
"Boys2Men Mentoring was started with a God-given passion," said Ings. "Just wanting to see boys receive the love, guidance, and support for them to live successful lives."
The executive director of L.O.V.E. Our Youth says partnering with Orange County allows her to expand their programming through their teen program.
"I'm just looking forward to our youth continuing to have a safe space in the community that they can come and just be themselves, have a sense of belonging," said Lasheena Williams.
Their recently opened teen lounge was designed by members of the group's youth advisory board, including Sumer Strawbree.
"The programs that are being offered here not only benefits the kids that are coming here but also the board itself. We are being educated on setting up a LinkedIn, being able to look at our career and our life and mental health," said Strawbree.
My Coping Lab Founder Dr. Imari Melton says the group is grateful for the opportunity and plans to use their share of the money for their Safe Zone Program, "a 12-week intervention model designed to help youth manage emotions, reduce behavioral incidents, and build resilience through experiential learning inside our Coping Labs."
County staff say these partnerships will reduce youth violence and improve their behavior and grades in school.